News, Notices & Prayer points - 19 December 2018

Posted Dec 19, 2018 in News

News & notices – 19 December 2018

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 19 December edition of UC e-News.

 

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Prayer Points for the week

• For holiday time. That it be a time of rest and recreation to help restore and renew us in Christ’s image and likeness.
• For the God of hope, who brought love into the world, let us be beacons of hope throughout this season and beyond.

 

Last UC E-News of the year

This is the last edition of UC E-News for 2019. The first edition for 2019 will be on Wednesday, 16 January. Any submissions for the online diary for publishing in the Feb/March edition of New Times will still be accepted up to Friday 21 December. Diary submissions received between 22 December and 3 January will have to wait for approval (and online publication) until Monday, 4 January 2019. The editorial staff would like to wish each and every one of you a very blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year.

 

Congregational Website Program Review

In an effort to improve the Congregational Website Program, the Communications and Events Team has created an online survey. If you are responsible for handling your congregational website and that website forms part of the Congregational Website Program, please take a few minutes to complete the survey, found here.

Your answers will help the team understand what is working, what needs changing/updating, and how the program can improve user experience and management. This is all part of an annual review that the program is currently undergoing.

Please complete the survey by Tuesday, 15 January 2019.

 

Delivery opportunity in 2019

New Times magazine is currently seeking a new courier/delivery person/service to help distribute the magazine to our urban congregations and faith communities. New Times gets distributed bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October and December. Remuneration for the service is available.

If you would be interested in fulfilling this service, or know someone who might be, please get in contact with New Times on 8236 4230 or send an email to Turn on Javascript!.

 

KCO Registrations opening soon

Merry Christmas from KCO! Earlier today a KCO Update went out with several important dates and reminders as well as the Group Coordinator’s Handbook for 2019. Please find the update here and the Group Coordinator’s Handbook which contains event information, here.

Remember, registrations for Kids Camp Out (KCO) 2019 will open on 15 January 2019. To stay up to date with KCO news, install the Yapp app to your device (use +61 in your mobile number); check out the KCO website or Facebook page, or sign up for email updates at Turn on Javascript!.

 

UCA Report on Child Safety published

The Uniting Church of Australia’s first annual report to the National Office of Child Safety (a recommendation of the Royal Commission) have today been published on the agency’s website. Read the UCA report here.

 

P&S Bible Study recordings

The Bible Study sessions by Rev Charissa Suli, were presented as part of the proceedings at the Annual Meeting of the Presbytery and Synod on 15-17 November this year, is now available online for viewing. The Bible Study centered around John 4, where Jesus meets and converses with a Samaritan woman at a well.

Follow these links to view the recordings online:

• Bible Study Friday 16 November, 2018
• Bible Study Saturday 17 November, 2018

 

SA Govt Grants for non-profits

The Office for the Ageing provides a range of Community Grants to fund initiatives that reflect the South Australian Government’s vision to bring the community together to create an all-ages-friendly state. Non-government, non-profit incorporated organisations can apply for Grants for Seniors and Positive Ageing Fellowship Grants.

Churches, congregations and faith communities may fall in this latter category and could apply to the Office for the Ageing Community Grants.  More information is available on their website, found here.

For more information about applying or queries, please contact Malcolm Wilson, Grants Officer, on 8236 4200.

 

Christmas Messages from the Leaders of Christian Churches in Australia

The National Council of Churches in Australia has released Christmas messages from the Leaders of all of the Christian Churches in Australia. UCA President, Dr Deidre Palmer’s message of “Liberating Hope” forms part of the collection. The messages are published on their website as a media release and can be accessed here.

 

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Didn’t read the last “News & notices”? The items below are ones you might want to catch up on.

 

Verifying UCA police check Identification documents

Ministers, UCA employees and Church Council members are authorised by UCSA to verify ID documents when presented with a police check application.

Verifiers must:

• Compare the information written on the application to the ID presented (e.g. names and addresses, date of birth, signature, passport number written)
• Confirm that the ID presented is authentic and be aware of possible fraudulent activity relating to identity documents.

 Factsheet is available at  https://sa.uca.org.au/safe-church/screening-process

 

Growing Young Conference

If you are a ministry leader keen to involve and retain young people in your congregation or faith community, you may be interested in attending the Growing Young Conference. This conference will focus on some of the key ways that growing churches are engaging 15 to 29 year olds and will offer both leadership strategies and practical ideas for reaching younger generations in a way that breathes life into the whole church.

Growing Young Conference will be held on Saturday 16 February at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Para Vista, with guest speaker, Jake Mulder. For more information contact the Intergen Team by email (Turn on Javascript!) or visit the website. Register online here before Friday, 1 February 2019.

 

Sally Stamp says "thankyou"

Sally Stamp wishes to say a big “thank you” to all the church members, businesses and groups who had collected stamps during 2018. Please keep up the good work and continue to send your stamps to the Church Office.

Maxine Haines, who heads up the Sally Stamp operation, reminds everyone that one of the best places to get stamps is the local Doctor's surgery. “So please ask if they will save the stamps,” she says.

This year, Sally Stamp has helped South Pacific School Aid to send pallets overseas and helped with a container being sent to Papua New Guinea.

If you have books that are no longer required, or old stamp collections, please contact Maxine by calling 0427 972417 or send her an email at Turn on Javascript!. 

 

Watercolour for Novices

The Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts (CMLA) is planning a whole-day painting workshop on Tuesday, 8 January 2019, with local artist Karan Hudson, at Brougham Place Uniting Church. Spaces are limited. Book online here.

The CMLA is also still selling its Australian nativity resource “Right-side-up Christmas” for $20 each. Send them an email to Turn on Javascript! to order a copy.

 

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